Portable check protector

ABSTRACT

A check protector is provided which is of small enough size to be carried in a purse or pocket. A series of numeral imprinting wheels project from the bottom of the device and are individually rotated by manually operated gears projecting from the opposite side. A removable cap covers the imprinting wheels when not in operation, and includes an ink pad engageable by the imprinting wheels.

United States Patent 1 Flemino 1 Jan. 23, 1973 PORTABLE CHECK PROTECTOR [75] Inventor: Reginald B. Flemino, St. Paul, Minn.

[73] Assignee: Golden Age Industries, Ramsey,

Minn.

[22] Filed: Oct. 19, 1970 [21] App1.No.: 81,787

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,556,782 10/1925 Glasgow ..10l/l10 2,086,220 7/1937 Grant I ..l01/l 11 3,608,481 9/1971 Price et a1. ..ll/111 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 135,298 11/1919 Great Britain ..l0l/lll 520,869 1955 Italy ..10l/l Primary Examiner-Clyde l. Coughenour Attorney-Carl L. Johnson and Marvin Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A check protector is provided which is of small enough size to be carried in a purse or pocket. A series of numeral imprinting wheels project from the bottom of the device and are individually rotated by manually operated gears projecting from the opposite side. A removable cap covers the imprinting wheels 42,235 /l864 Spencer ..l0l/ll0 hen not in operation, and includes an ink pad enll X gageable the imprinting wheels 3,190,217 6/1965 Reiner I ..lOl/l10 1,677,319 7/l928 Andersen ..l0l/l ll 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures A Z7 2 I I 26 15 E 32 Z 59 d! PORTABLE CHECK PROTECTOR This invention relates to an improvement in Portable Check Protector and deals particularly with a device which is light in weight and small in size, and which may print the proper amount of the Check in the proper location on the check blank.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Check protectors have been produced for a great number of years. These devices usually include a series of discs which may be manually rotated to indicate the amount of the check. In most instances, after the amount of the check is set up by the discs, the check is inserted into the apparatus. The imprinting wheels are then forced into contact with the check to either imprint the amount, or else to emboss the amount of the check in the desired location on the check blank so that alteration of the check is rendered extremely difficult.

While such machines are very practical for use in offices, they are completely impractical for use by most individuals. In the first place, check protectors are usually quite expensive to buy. Furthermore, the check protector housings are usually heavily weighted so as to remain in place when the lever or other means is actuated to imprint the check. Thus, while such devices are portable in the sense that they can be carried or moved from one position to another, they are not at'all portable in the sense that they may be carried in a purse or pocket for imprinting checks at the point of purchase.

Tremendous amounts of money are lost each year through the altering of checks. It is relatively simple for a forger to learn the technique of altering handwritten checks so that while the original signature is a true and correct signature, the amount of the check may be greatly increased from the amount of the original check.

It is also a fact that the handwriting of persons making out checks varies greatly and in many instances, the handwriting is almost illegible to a person cashing the check. As a result, it is often possible for a cashier receiving a check to pay out the amount of money which appears to be written on the check, and for the bank to interpret the handwriting as a different amount. As a result, there are very often differences between the amount for which a check is cashed, and the amount the bank customer is credited when the check is cleared by the bank. This leads to many errors in bookkeeping which are hard to discover after the checks have cleared the bank. Furthermore, persons with bank accounts are not always the most astute at spelling. This sometimes leads to embarrassment. A cashier in a store does not like to embarrass a customer by indicating that the amount of the check has been misspelled. At the same time, the misspelling of the amount can embarrass the cashier if the misspelling leads to a misunderstanding with the bank.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a portable check protector which may be easily kept in a purse, a pocket, a desk drawer or the like. The protector weighs but a few ounces and may be of small dimensions, for example less than 3 inches in length. As a result, the persons writing a check can quickly set the protector to print the proper amount,

and merely apply the device to the check in order to provide a printed indication of the amount of the check. Such a printed legend is extremely difficult to alter without making a readily visible erasure on the check surface.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a readily removable closure which is frictionally engaged on the body housing of the device, and which normally encloses the slightly projecting imprinting wheels or rollers. This removable closure includes an inking pad which will apply ink to the embossed numbers on the imprinting wheels so that the check protector is always in readiness for use.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a device comprising a housing of generally rectangular form in horizontal section, but in which the bottom of the housing is somewhat larger than the top, the side and end walls being generally trapezoidal and tapering to some extent. This shape permits the check protector to be readily held in the hand and pressed against the surface of the check. The bottom of the housing comprises an apertured bottom closure wall through which a series of printing wheels extend. The printing wheels include angularly spaced raised or embossed numerals from zero to nine sequentially on their peripheral surfaces. The imprinting wheels are formed of a resilient material capable of accepting ink from the ink pad, and transferring it to the surface of the check. These imprinting wheels are mounted on a common shaft, and two of the axially spaced wheels are usually spaced from the others. The two wheels are normally used to indicate the number of cents imprinted on the check, while the remaining imprinting wheels are axially spaced, and are used to indicate the number of dollars for which the check has been written. In the arrangement illustrated, there are four such imprinting wheels indicated so that the amount of the check may vary up to 9,999 dollars and 99 Cents. Obviously, additional imprinting wheels could be provided if desired.

The device includes a second shaft parallel to the first and upon which are supported a series of gears which project through slots in the top of the housing, and each of which is in constant mesh with a cooperable gear integral with a corresponding one of the imprinting wheels. By rotating these gears, the imprinting wheels may be rotated about their axes in order to indicate the proper amount of the check.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the simplicity of cost of the apparatus. The ends of the shaft supporting the gears is slidablc in opposed vertical grooves forming a part of the end walls of the housing. The shaft supporting the imprinting wheels is somewhat longer than the gear supporting shaft, and the ends of this longer shaft are engaged in notches at the base of the grooves in which the gear shaft may slide. Prior to completion of the assembly, the imprinting wheels and their integral gears are mounted on the longer shaft, and two of these wheels are held in spaced relation to the others by a suitable spacer. The operating gears may be assembled on the shorter shaft, and spacers or connecters are provided through which the ends of the two shafts extend to hold the entire operating portion of the device assembled. The assembled unit may be merely dropped into the housing, and the lower closure plate may be applied to hold the unit assembled. When assembled, portions of the imprinting wheels extend through the bottom closure plate, while portions of the operating gears extend through slots in the top of the housing. The unit is completed by frictionally engaging the housing in the tray like cap including the inking pad which may be used to apply ink to the imprinting wheels.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the check protector in its complete form.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the check protector with the cooperable closure tray removed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the closure tray removed from the housing.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the apparatus, the position of the section being indicated by the lines 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view at right angles to the section of FIG. 4, the position of the section being indicated by the line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The check protector is indicated in general by the letter A, and in general includes a housing portion which is indicated in general by the numeral 10, and a cap or closure member which is indicated in general by the numeral 11. The two parts normally fit together in frictional engagement. The body portion of the apparatus includes a top wall 12, generally trapezoidal end walls 13, and generally trapezoidal side walls 14. The housing is of elongated form with the end walls 13 of substantially less area than the side walls 14.

The top panel 12 is integrally connected to the shorter parallel edges of the trapezoidal side and end walls, and these side and end walls are connected at the corners to form a generally hollow enclosure having an open lower end. While the side walls have been described as generally trapezoidal, the lower portions 15 of the end walls 13 are in generally parallel relation, as are also the lower end portions 16 of the side walls 14. To complete the housing 10, a bottom closure plate 17 is provided which is supported with its lower surface substantially flush with the lower edges of the side and end walls 13 and 14. The bottom closure plate 17 is held in place by a series of three spaced tapered ribs 19 on the inner surfaces of each of the housing side walls 14, the inner surfaces of the ribs 19 being substantially parallel. These reinforcing ribs 19 engage in cooperable notches 20 in the side edges of the bottom closure plate 17. The bottom closure plate 17 is also held in place by a second series of tapered ribs, the inner surfaces of which are generally parallel. As is indicated on the right side of FIG. 5 of the drawings, the lower end 22 of each rib 21 terminates slightly above the lower edges of the side walls 14 forming shoulders or abutments against which the bottom closure plate 17 may engage to limit the inward movement of the closure plate.

A series of gears 23 are provided with hubs 24 encircling a shaft 25 and rotatable with respect thereto. A

pair of generally rectangular bosses 26 and 27 extend inwardly from the end walls 13 intermediate the side walls 14. These bosses 26 and 27 are provided with parallel inner ends 29 and 30 respectively which are centrally vertically grooved as indicated at 31 and 32. The bases of the grooves 31 and 32 are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the length of the gear shaft 25 so that this shaft may be properly lrxzated by the grooves which are of a width substantially equal to the diameter of the shaft 25. The grooves 31 and 32 terminate short of the top panel 12 of the housing .90 as to provide abutments 33 and 34 which limit the upward movement of the shaft 25. As is evident from the drawings, the gears 23 project through parallel slots 35 in the top housing panel 12 so as to be individually accessible for rotation.

A second shaft 36 which is of somewhat greater length than the shaft 25 is terminally engaged in a pair of notches at the lower ends of the grooves 31 and 32. The notches 37 and 39 hold the shaft 36 in parallel relation to the shaft 25.

Imprinting wheels 40 are rotatably mounted upon the shaft 36, and each imprinting wheel includes a coaxial integral gear 41 which is in mesh with a corresponding gear 23. The outer surface of each imprint ing wheel 40 is provided with angularly spaced indicia 42 which represents sequentially the numbers from zero to nine. The numerals are evenly spaced about the periphery of the imprinting wheels, and the imprinting wheels are preferably formed of somewhat resilient material so that ink may be applied thereto, and transferred to the surface of the check when pressed thereagainst.

A spacer 43 having an elongated hub 44 is positioned between two of the imprinting wheels 40 at the right side of the unit as indicated in the Figures and the four imprinting wheels 40 nearer the left hand end of the unit. A connector and spacer includes a vertical strip 45 provided with a spacing hub 46. The spacing strip 45 is apertured to accommodate an end of the gear shaft 25 and the hub 46 encircles the second shaft 36. The connecting strip 45 engages against the inner end 29 of the boss 26 and holds the two shafts in properly spaced relation. A second spacer strip is also apertured to accommodate the shaft 25 and the shaft 36 and is positioned inwardly of the inner end 30 of the boss 27, this strip 47 also serving to hold the shafts 25 and 36 in properly spaced relation.

As is evident from FIG. 2 of the drawings, the bottom closure panel 17 is provided with a relatively small aperturn 49 through which the two imprinting wheels at the right hand end of the series may extend, and a larger aperture 50 through which the remaining four imprinting wheels may extend. Ears 51 project from opposite ends of the bottom closure plate and are engaged in cooperable notches 52 in the lower edges of the end walls 13. The undersurface of the bottom closure plate 17 may be provided with embossed indicia 53 indicating that the two adjoining imprinting rollers are designed to indicate cents. and second indicia 54 designed to indicate that the four imprinting wheels projecting through the aperture 50 indicate dollars. A third area of indicia 58 may be provided at the end of the group of imprinting wheels to indicate the maximum amount which may be printed.

The housing if formed of resilient plastic. As in indicated in FIGS. 1 and 5 of the drawings, the upper portion of the housing 10 is provided with integral fingers 55 which are designed to engage in the teeth of the gears 23 and to prevent the rotation of the wheels 23 in one direction. These pawls or ratchet fingers simplify the adjustment of the imprinting wheels or rollers due to the fact that rotation is always in one direction.

In the formation of the device, the imprinting wheels 40 and the spacer 44 are mounted upon the shaft 36 with the integral gears 41 all facing in the same direction. The operating gears 23 are also mounted upon the gear shaft 25. The two shafts 25 and 36 are then connected in parallel relation by the connector or spacer strips 45 and 47. The entire movable mechanism is thus mounted or assembled externally of the housing on the two connected shafts. The mechanism is then inserted into the housing by positioning the ends of the shaft 25 in the slots 31 and 32 and sliding this shaft against the abutments 33 and 34. During the last part of this movement, the ends of the shaft 36 will engage in the notches 37 and 39. This is usually done with the housing in inverted position so that the mechanism can be dropped into the housing by gravity. The bottom closure plate 17 is then inserted in place, and is held either frictionally or may be secured in place by other means if so desired. The body of the device is thus completely assembled.

The cap 11 for enclosing the lower end of the unit when it is not in use is indicated in FIG. 3. As indicated, the cap 11 includes a bottom panel 60 having upstanding end walls 61 and upstanding side walls 62 which are connected at the corners and which may include diagonally extending ribs 63 at the corners which limit the insertion of the housing 10 into the cap 11. These ribs help to prevent injury to the projecting imprinting wheels. A pad 64 of ink absorbent material is adhered to the upper surface of the bottom panel 60 so as to be in normal contact with certain of the indicia on the imprinting wheels 40.

The cap 11 is normally frictionally assembled on the lower end of the housing 10. When it is desired to use the check protector A, the cap 11 is removed and the gears 63 are manually operated to bring the desired numerals into full view as indicated in FIG. 2 of the drawings. If desired, the housing may be reinserted into the cap 11 and pressed downwardly to insure the proper linking of the indicia. The housing is removed, and the imprinting wheels 40 are placed upon the surface of the check and pressed downwardly so that the indicia will appear in proper location upon the check.

In accordance with the Patent Office Statutes, l have described the principles of construction and operation of my portable check protector, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

I l. A portable check protector comprising: a housing including a top panel and connected side and end walls depending therefrom; a pair of parallel shafts in vertically spaced relationship, the lower shaft being longer than the upper shaft; a series of gear adjustment wheels rotatably su ported on the upper of said shafts; said tog) panel mclu ing aperture means through which said a justing wheels project; a series of imprinting wheels rotatably supported on the lower of said shafts; a gear connected concentrically to each of said imprinting wheels in mesh with a corresponding adjusting wheel on the upper shaft; embossed angularly spaced num bers on said imprinting wheels; said housing end walls having vertical grooves in which the upper of said shafts is engaged, the upper ends of said grooves forming abutments limiting the upward movement of said upper shaft; and said vertical grooves having notches at the lower ends in which the ends of said lower shaft are engaged.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 including connecting strips extending between said shafts and holding them in spaced relation, said connecting strips engaging said bottom closure plate.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in which said housing is made of resilient plastic material and in which said housing includes resilient fingers on one side of said aperture means engaging said adjusting wheels to hold the same from rotation in one direction.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1 further including a spacer on one of said shafts for axially spacing certain of said wheels; and in which said spacer engages said opposite wall to provide support for said wall. 

1. A portable check protector comprising: a housing including a top panel and connected side and end walls depending therefrom; a pair of parallel shafts in vertically spaced relationship, the lower shaft being longer than the upper shaft; a series of gear adjustment wheels rotatably supported on the upper of said shafts; said top panel including aperture means through which said adjusting wheels project; a series of imprinting wheels rotatably supported on the lower of said shafts; a gear connected concentrically to each of said imprinting wheels in mesh with a corresponding adjusting wheel on the upper shaft; embossed angularly spaced numbers on said imprinting wheels; said housing end walls having vertical grooves in which the upper of said shafts is engaged, the upper ends of said grooves forming abutments limiting the upward movement of said upper shaft; and said vertical grooves having notches at the lower ends in which the ends of said lower shaft are engaged.
 2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 including connecting strips extending between said shafts and holding them in spaced relation, said connecting strips engaging said bottom closure plate.
 3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in which said housing is made of resilient plastic material and in which said housing includes resilient fingers on one side of said aperture means engaging said adjusting wheels to hold the same from rotation in one direction.
 4. The invention as set forth in claim 1 further including a spacer on one of said shafts for axially spacing certain of said wheels; and in which said spacer engages said opposite wall to provide support for said wall. 